Since 2015, Kathrin Breitenbach has been working as both a scenographer in exhibition design and a product designer. Her passion for material development from biological resources emerged during her studies at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and the Detmold School of Architecture and Interior Design—a passion that ultimately led her to establish the Persea Design label in Dortmund in 2019.

Working alongside her team in her Unionviertel studio, Kathrin Breitenbach crafts unique pieces from renewable biological resources. Avocado pits serve as a key material, transformed into 3D-printable biomaterial. Rather than importing fresh avocados, she sources only pits left over from regional food service—achieving full circular utilization of this emission-intensive fruit. At approximately 60 grams, avocado pits represent a third of the fruit's weight, previously destined as production waste in food processing and the cosmetics industry. This innovative approach culminated in her first product: the Persea Original lamp. Her bio-based plastic derived from avocado pits earned her the Recycling Design Prize in 2019. Today, the collection features the Coco lamp and Apricot and Wood vases, where fine layering created through 3D printing becomes the defining design element. The Coco lamp—a digitally conceived, sustainable fixture made from pure coconut filament—is engineered to fit standard lamp bases effortlessly. Its delicate 3D structure is beautifully accentuated by light. The Wood and Apricot vases, both 3D-printed and ideal for dried arrangements, showcase different sustainable approaches: Wood combines corn and recycled wood fibers, while Apricot is crafted entirely from corn. Measuring 15 x 8 x 8 cm each, they work beautifully as standalone pieces or grouped together.

www.persea-design.com

Photography Credits:

Lisa Hajok

Alexander F. Tillmann
www.alexander-friedrich-tillmann.de

(Published in CUBE Magazine Ruhrgebiet 04|20)